Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-10
II ELO-DRAMA.
Theatricals Impleading the Inter
state Commission fer Chance
for Life.

CHICAGO, April 9.-The managers and
and other representatives of the different
theatrical interests met at Pool Hooley S
theatre to-day to take action designed to
avert the disastrous effects to travelling
companies by the interstate railroad law
Col McCauley occupied the chair and
about thirty other managers and represen-
taiives of different theatres in Chicago
were present. G. H. Mcconnell read the
report Of the committee appointed at
Thursdays meeting which recommended
that permanent organization be effected
for the purpose Of carrying on vigorous
fight for existence. The name recommen
ded for the organization was the National
Amusement Protective association to have
its headquarters in Chicago.
The committee presented memorial or
petition to the interstate commerce com
mission. Copies Of this are to be sent to
every theatre and theatrical company IN
the country for instructions for each EN-
ploye or member, for any person interested
in the welfare Of the theatrical profession
to send one to the secretary of the railroad
commission at Washington. The result
of putting this plan in operation, the com
mittee said, would be that the commission
ers would soon bave 10000 petitions per
day pouring ia on them. The report OF
the committee was adopted. David Hen
derson was chosen president and Charles
H. Williams secretary.
The petition which viii be sent to the
railroad commission asking that the pro
visions of the new law as applied to the
amusement profession be suspended for
thirty DAYS, for the reason that all existing
contracts between travelling companies ana
local managers were entirely into before
the law was passed. The petition also
asks the commissioners to SO interpret the
law as to permit railroad companies to
make reduced rates for theatrical parties of
not less than ten persons and increase the
allowance Of baggage, with concessions
for carloads of scenery. The petition thus
presents the situation IS it effects the
| theatrical business.
There are about five hundred organized
combinations constantly travelling Gnclud-
| ing circusses) which employ in the aggre-
gate upwards OF ten thousand adults.
There are upwards Of three thousand, five
hundred theaters, opera houses and places
| of amusement in the United States, giving
l IIlcut W dDOuS iplSv thcucohN kIS'
sons. These local amusement places can
not exist, nor any return on the immense
I capital invested therein be paid except
J through the cooperation of the five hun
bred travelling combinations playing en-
gagements throughout the year In the res
pective houses.
There are q. least 5000 persons en-
| ploved in collateral branches mainly de
| pendent upon the show business. sO-called
such as printers, costumers, bill posters
| scene painters manufacturers of theatrica
wares and merchandise generally. 1t is q
reasonable assumption that there are &
quarter of million people who are de
pendent for their support on the labors OF
the IS 600 adults above mentioned as being
employed in the amusement profession.
1t is estimated that the amount OF money
psid by the amusement companies annual
" to the rsalroad companies Is upwards o.
| So 500 600 Under the interstate COIN
merce law this amount would be increased
by at lesst g.. 000, 900, provided the same
number travelled as heretofore. with the
same amount of baggage. scenery, etc
This increased expense represents far more
than the aggregate profit Of all the leading
amusement enterprises combined.